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 New
research from the University of the West of England in Bristol aims
to validate and standardise molecular genotyping as a testing
strategy for blood grouping – improving patient safety &
blood transfusion compatibility.
Current tests for blood grouping are based on Blood group
serology, a technology that has been in use since the very early
days of blood transfusion nearly a hundred years ago. Serological
testing is inherently safe but routine testing doesn’t cover
all clinically significant blood group antigens because it’s
not practical or economic to test every blood donation for every
blood group.
Not all blood groups are compatible with each other and mixing
incompatible blood groups leads to blood clumping or agglutination,
which can put some people at risk
Now Bloodgen, a consortium made up of many of Europe's experts
on molecular blood grouping and funded by the European Commission,
is nearing the end of a three-year research project into
genotyping. This novel approach to developing a testing a testing
strategy for blood grouping compatibility means that health
professionals now have a chance to test routinely for 9 blood
groups instead of the two covered by serology testing.
The scientists believe that genotyping could be one of the great
hope for the future of medical testing and could be used to provide
greater accuracy in a wide range of routine testing for clinical
patients.
Footage includes:
- GVs - National Blood Service Centre, Bristol, UK
- Serological Blood Testing in National Blood Service Centre
- GVs - Laboratory tests of genotype testing
Interviewees:
- Professor Neil Avent, Director of the Centre for Research in Bio-
Medicine, Faculty of Applied Science, University of the West of
England
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